Glow in the dark keyboard members for illuminating a keyboard

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides keyboard members that can glow in the dark for illuminating a keyboard.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to providing keyboard members thatcan glow in the dark for illuminating a keyboard.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In the prior art keyboards it is difficult to discern the symbolappearing on the top of the key member under poor lighting conditions.

[0003] Many people use their computers in the evening in places whereillumination may not be proper for typing. Many persons take theircomputers away from their offices and homes, on trains, planes and othermeans of travel. Some persons type in their bedrooms at night but do notwant to disturb other persons by putting a light on. Therefore it isimportant to come up with a way of illuminating the keyboard of acomputer or typewriter to assist a person in seeing the keys.

[0004] The versatility of the portable laptop computer is limited by theamount of ambient light available. There are devices today that areilluminators or lights which are added to the computer. However, thesedevices are bulky and may annoy other people who are in the room.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,992 relates to a keyboard illuminator and amethod for illuminating a keyboard for use by a computer user operatinga computer having a keyboard, a housing and a display that emits light.The keyboard illuminator includes a rigid planar member that is at leastpartially transmitting and at least partially reflecting and anapparatus for mounting the member on the housing. The member is mountedso that the member is disposed at an angle to the display screen betweenthe display screen and the user such that at least a portion of lightemitted by the display screen is reflected onto the keyboard toilluminate the keyboard for operation.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,694 relates to a self-activated keyboardilluminator and accessory. A keyboard lighting fixture includes a basefor securing to the underside of keyboards or directly onto theworkstation, stabilizing the light fixture to allow pivoting of thehousing. The pivoting of the housing to a desired operational positionenergizes the system which is powered by a plug-in transformer. A secondembodiment shows a copy text illuminator, half the size of the keyboardlight and powered by a cord that connects the two light fixtures, makingit an auxiliary fixture, to the keyboard light. The auxiliary lightfixture is powered via the keyboard light or via a stand-alonetransformer.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,217,183 relates to a keyboard having illuminatedkeys. The keyboard includes a light channeling membrane and key membersconstructed at least partially of translucent material so that lightproduced from a light source is channeled upwardly to the upper surfacesof the key members.

[0008] Keyboard and keypad backlighting devices which utilize LED, LCDor fiber optics are relatively expensive to construct. In addition,light sources for use with prior art backlit keyboards requiresubstantial power and in some cases, a fan for cooling which drawsadditional power. These constructions are prohibitive for portablecomputers such as laptop and notebook computers which draw on the powerof a rechargeable battery and where power is at a premium.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention relates to a device for providingillumination to a keyboard when the environment does not provide enoughlight. It is an object of the present invention for the device tocomprise glow in the dark stickers which are attached to the keyboard.It is an object of the present invention for the stickers to bepermanently or removably attached to the keyboard. It is an object ofthe present invention to illuminate the key members using an inexpensiveand simple stickon.

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to illuminate thekeyboard without the use of power from the computer, nor does theinvention require a separate power source. It is an object of thepresent invention to make the keyboard key members more discernable inlow light conditions. It is an object of the present invention to have akeyboard which is illuminated for use with today's computer systemsincluding portable computers.

[0011] It is an object of the present invention to have the charactersof the keyboard placed on the glow in the dark stickers so that thestickon can be placed right over the specific key member.

[0012] It is an object of the present invention for the glow in the darksticker to have an opening which allows the characters on the keymembers to be seen.

[0013] It is an object of the present invention to make the keyboardmembers of a material that glows in the dark.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] In an embodiment of the present invention, the keyboard membersare constructed of a substantially non-deformable material, the keymembers depressably positioned within the keyboard housing. The keymembers include at least twenty-six key members having letters displayedthereon.

[0015] Conventional keyboards include a plurality of key members whichdisplay symbols, such as alphanumeric keys, on their top surfaces.Moreover, typical modem keyboards for both electric typewriters andcomputers utilize a make and break electrical circuit which is activatedby depression of a key member for identifying a particular symbolembedded on the top of the key member.

[0016] A typical computer has a keyboard, central processing unit andmonitor. By pressing key members on the keyboard, one sends signals tothe central processing unit instructing the computer to perform variousfunctions. A typical keyboard includes a housing. The keyboard furtherincludes a plurality of key members and a diaphragm having elasticdiaphragm projections for biasing the key members to a normally upwardposition. A typical computer keyboard further includes a circuit boardwhich is disposed below the key members and diaphragm. The circuit boardincludes first and second printed wiring layers which include engravedor embedded electrical circuits. The printed wiring layers are separatedby an insulator or dielectric layer. The insulator layer includes aplurality of holes so that depression downwardly of the key memberscauses the diaphragm projection to be forced downwardly upon the printedwiring layer so that printed wiring layers can come in contact to openand close distinctive electrical switches through the holes of theinsulator layer. Each of these electrical switches correspond todifferent key members so that the keyboard operator can depress keymembers either individually or in combination to send various signals tothe computer's central processing unit.

[0017] The present invention provides illumination to a keyboard whenthe environment does not provide enough light. In one embodiment of thepresent invention, glow in the dark stickers are attached to the keys ofthe keyboard. The stickers can be permanently or removably attached tothe keyboard. The stickers can be inexpensive and simple stickons thatilluminate the keyboard. In a further embodiment, the stickers can befor children and therefor in the form of animals. However, the mainpurpose of the stickers is to allow a user to see the keys of a computeror typewriter terminal when the lighting is insufficient.

[0018] The present invention does not require the use of power from thecomputer, nor does the invention require a separate power source toilluminate the keyboard.

[0019] In an embodiment of the present invention the keyboard membersare made of a material that glows in the dark. The keyboard members canbe made of any material, for example plastic which is coated with asubstance that glows in the dark allowing a user to see the letters,numerals, etc. on the keyboard when there is poor or no illuminationprovided external to the computer.

[0020] In a further embodiment, the flow in the dark stickers have thecharacters of each keyboard member on the sticker. The glow in the darksticker is placed directly over the corresponding key member having thatcharacter.

[0021] In an embodiment of the present invention, the glow in the darkstickers have an opening which allows the characters on the key membersto be seen through the opening. In this embodiment, it is not necessaryto print the characters on the stickers.

1. A device for providing illumination to a keyboard comprising; glow inthe dark stickers which are attached to keys of said keyboard.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein said stickers are permanently attached to saidkeys.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein said stickers are removablyattached to said keys.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein said stickersare in the shape of animals.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein characterson said keys are printed on said stickers.
 6. The device of claim 1further comprising: an opening in said sticker which allows a characteron said key to be seen.
 7. A device for providing illumination to akeyboard comprising; keyboard members; said keyboard members made of amaterial that glows in the dark.
 8. The device of claim 7 wherein saidkeyboard members are made of a plastic material which is coated with asubstance that glows in the dark allowing a user to see letters,numerals, etc. on said keyboard when there is poor or no illuminationprovided external to said keyboard.
 9. A device for providingillumination to a keyboard comprising; keyboard members constructed of asubstantially non-deformable material, said key members depressablypositioned within a keyboard housing; said key members including atleast twenty six key members having letters displayed thereon on theirtop surface; said key members made of a material that glows in the dark.10. The device of claim 9 further comprising: a make and breakelectrical circuit which is activated by depression of a key member foridentifying a particular symbol embedded on top of said key member. 11.The device of claim 9 wherein said keyboard members are made of aplastic material which is coated with a substance that glows in the darkallowing a user to see letters, numerals, etc. on said keyboard whenthere is poor or no illumination provided external to said keyboard.